Recess and unstructured times present immense growth opportunities for elementary students, yet for many children, navigating these spaces is challenging. The ability to join games, cooperate, negotiate disagreements, and work through conflicts with peers is a set of skills that doesn’t always develop automatically. Many students—especially those needing social support—require explicit teaching and structured practice to build play skills. ‘Solving Problems on the Playground,’ a no-prep downloadable activity from Everyday Speech, provides a clear pathway for helping children build these essential abilities while reinforcing friendship skills in a safe, supportive environment.

What Are Play Skills?

Play skills refer to the fundamental abilities children use to engage with peers in productive, fun, and positive ways during recreational activities. These include skills such as initiating play, sharing materials, taking turns, following group rules, solving problems that arise during play, and resolving conflicts appropriately. When children possess effective play skills, they are equipped to participate in group games, collaborate with classmates, and form friendships that enrich their school experiences.

At their core, play skills encompass both social communication and problem-solving strategies tailored to the context of unstructured peer interactions. For many children, especially those with social communication challenges, neurodiversity, or emotional needs, structured support is necessary to help them interpret cues, respond to setbacks, and build confidence in group settings like the playground.

Why Teach Play Skills?

Intentional instruction in play skills brings life-changing benefits to children and transforms a school’s social climate. Here are key reasons to make explicit play skills instruction a priority:

• Enhances children’s abilities to join and sustain peer groups during recess and free time.
• Promotes positive friendship-building by reinforcing pro-social behaviors such as turn-taking and compromise.
• Prevents and reduces playground conflicts by teaching concrete problem-solving strategies.
• Increases inclusion and participation for students with social communication needs or anxiety.
• Fosters independence, allowing children to enjoy recess with minimal adult intervention.
• Lays the groundwork for classroom collaboration, cooperative learning, and group projects.
• Reduces disciplinary incidents related to playground disagreements or misunderstandings.
• Builds student resilience through practice with real-world challenges, like losing a game or handling exclusion.

Targeted instruction in play skills equips students not only for smoother recess experiences but also for success in relationships and collaborative learning throughout their school years.

Lesson Plan: Using Solving Problems on the Playground

Everyday Speech’s ‘Solving Problems on the Playground’ provides no-prep, structured scenarios and prompts designed for small groups or whole-class settings. It lends itself to a flexible, engaging session focused on concrete practices of conflict resolution and collaborative play.

Step 1: Introduce the Concept of Playground Problems

Begin by discussing common challenges that arise on the playground. Start with questions such as, “What kinds of problems might happen when we play with others at recess?” or, “Has anyone ever had a disagreement over a game or turn?” Create a safe space where students can openly share experiences, normalizing the idea that problems are a regular part of play and that everyone needs tools to solve them.

Use a whiteboard or chart paper to list examples named by the students. Typical problems might include disagreements over rules, who gets to be ‘it,’ joining ongoing games, or someone feeling left out. Emphasize that effective problem-solving helps games continue and friendships grow stronger.

Step 2: Model a Playground Problem and Solution

Select a sample scenario, or briefly create one with a peer or teacher. For example, replay a situation in which two students want the same playground equipment at the same time. First, model an unhelpful reaction, such as grabbing the equipment or yelling. Then, model a positive approach by pausing, using calm words, and suggesting ways to take turns or share.

Verbally walk through the thinking process that leads to the solution, such as recognizing both students’ feelings, brainstorming options, and choosing a fair solution. Reinforce language such as, “Let’s make a plan so we can both have a turn,” or, “How can we solve this problem together?”

Step 3: Engage Students in Scenario Practice

Use the scenario cards and problem-solving scripts from the ‘Solving Problems on the Playground’ activity to invite children to practice. Divide the group into pairs or small groups, assigning each group a scenario from the resource. Have students act out the scenario first as a conflict, then coach them to use a problem-solving strategy.

Encourage participants to use specific language, such as requesting a turn, offering a compromise, or suggesting a new rule. Guide them through problem-solving steps: identifying the problem, sharing perspectives, brainstorming solutions, agreeing on a plan, and moving forward.

During each role-play, pause and discuss how the use of communication tools and positive behaviors affect the outcome. Allow classmates to give supportive feedback and highlight creative or effective strategies used during the activity.

Step 4: Explore Multiple Ways to Solve Common Problems

After several role-plays, invite students to brainstorm together a list of “Playground Problem-Solving Strategies” inspired by their role-play experience. These might include:

• Taking turns
• Using rock-paper-scissors or similar fair decision-making games
• Starting a new game if joining is not possible
• Asking to join in with a specific role
• Listening to others’ ideas
• Agreeing on clear rules before starting
• Sharing or exchanging equipment
• Walking away and finding a new group if a conflict cannot be solved right away

Display this list on the wall or provide printed copies for students to refer to before recess. Discuss how no single approach fits every situation, and invite students to try different strategies to find what works best for their group.

Step 5: Personal Reflection and Goal Setting

Wrap up the session by encouraging each student to reflect on what they learned. Prompt them to share a strategy they will try the next time they face a playground problem. For older elementary students, provide a brief worksheet or ask them to set a specific goal related to using problem-solving language or including others in a game.

If appropriate, invite children to share their goals with the group, building a sense of commitment and community. Let students know that teachers, counselors, or support staff are available to help if a problem feels hard to solve independently.

Supporting Play Skills After the Activity

Sustained progress in play skills is most likely when students have opportunities to revisit, practice, and generalize their learning over time. The following approaches help reinforce play and friendship skills beyond the initial lesson:

• Reinforce strategies during real recess times by providing gentle coaching and positive feedback as children use new skills.
• Collaborate with playground supervisors to observe and praise examples of successful problem-solving.
• Set up regular “social check-ins” in the classroom, inviting students to share when they solved a problem or included someone new.
• Integrate friendship and group play themes into classroom morning meetings or closing circles.
• Encourage students to identify trustworthy adults to approach if a playground problem feels too big to handle alone.
• Use social stories or visuals based on the strategies brainstormed in the activity session.
• Invite peer models or student leaders to support inclusion and positive play on the playground.
• Provide booster activities or occasional revisit sessions using the Everyday Speech scenarios.

School communities where play and conflict resolution are explicitly taught often see long-lasting improvements in peer relationships and overall student wellbeing.

Wrapping Up: Building Lasting Play and Friendship Skills

Explicit instruction and guided practice in play skills go a long way in nurturing confident, collaborative, and resilient students. The ‘Solving Problems on the Playground’ activity offers practical, no-prep tools for teaching these skills in an engaging and supportive way. Consistent use of this resource ensures that children learn how to resolve playground problems peacefully, share responsibilities, and build enduring friendships.

Effective social problem-solving does not end with a single lesson but is cultivated through ongoing opportunities, reflection, and support. When children know how to handle push-and-pull moments on the playground, their feelings of community, safety, and belonging grow stronger. Sharing strategies, celebrating small victories, and providing a trusted adult presence on the playground lay the foundation for lifelong social confidence. Download the Solving Problems on the Playground activity here to empower students with these vital friendship skills throughout their elementary years.